Vacuum cleaners



June 28, 1966 J. v. MILLER 3,257,681

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed April 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n. O) K (0% W O) 20 \6 il) \Nv amok AOWHM June 28, 1966 .1. v. MILLER 3,257,681

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed April 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X "7 W E /77 A/ W! m f M YWF/ \NVLNTOR1 XMQX United States Patent 3,257,681 VACUUM QLEANERS Jack V. Miller, 700 N. Auburn Ave., Sierra Madre, Calif. Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,337 Claims. (Cl. 15-331) This invention relates to vacuum cleaning machines, and more specifically to electrically driven vacuum cleaning machines, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a vacuum cleaner in which agitation of the floor surface is acomplished in a multidirectional manner.

Second, to provide a vacuum cleaner in which an agitation brush does not contribute to floor-covering wear through continuous rotation at high surface velocity.

Third, to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the air which is drawn from the cleaning area is not expelled into the room along with its unfilterable contaminants, but instead is recirculated in a closed cycle.

Fourth, to provide a vacuum cleaner which is not limited to movement generally along the axis of the handle, but instead may be moved readily in any lateral direction desired by the operator.

Fifth, to provide a vacuum cleaner which is capable of agitating loose, picking up and containing liquid as well as solid particulate matter.

Sixth, to provide a vacuum cleaner having wheels which are retractile, permitting operation essentially as a ground-effect vehicle for ease and flexibility of operation, and to avoid leaving wheel tracks on soft, pile floor coverlngs.

Seventh, to provide a vacuum cleaner in which an oscillatory agitation action reduces machine-to-floor friction, thereby permitting greater ease and flexibility of operation.

Eighth, to provide a vacuum cleaner having a switching means in a handle grip which is normally off, so that unintentional operation is precluded.

Ninth, to provide an upright type of vacuum cleaner which maybe easily converted to a tank-type.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section view of the cleaning hea d of the vacuum cleaner in the upright-type embodiment.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the entire vacuum cleaner.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section View of the cleaning head of the vacuum cleaner in the tank-type embodiment.

It should be noted that the drawings illustrate preferred mechanizations of the invention. However other orientations of the elements are possible to utilize the principles involved in the invention.

Reference is directed to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIGURE 1. The vacuum cleaner therein comprises a centrally disposed motor 1 having driving means extending axially from the opposite ends. The uppermost driving means comprises a shaft which operates impeller 2 in a coaxial rotation concentrically about the motor. The lowermost driving means is an eccentric drive 3, which may rotate at a lower speed than the impeller. The motor is supported in a generally circular frame 4, through which the eccentric drive centrally protrudes 'in the downward direction. The eccentric drive is rotatable engaged at its lowermost end in a bearing 5 which is centrally disposed in a drive spider 6.

The drive spider 6 is generally circular, and attaches at its periphery to the agitation brush 7, which is also generally circular and has a plurality of bristles extending downward so as to contact the floor or surface being cleaned. The agitation brush and the drive spider are detented at the vertical Patented June 28, 1966 ice mutually attached to a resilient support 8, which in turn is attached to the frame 4 in such a manner thatthe agitation brush and drive spider are resiliently attached to the frame 4.

An inner housing 9 is attached peripherally to frame 4 at generally the same point where the resilient support 8 is attached so that the frame and inner housing cooperately for-m an impeller chamber 10. The impeller chamber is generally the shape of a truncated cone formed about the impeller blades 11, and having a circular inlet 12 along with a plurality of outlet passages 13 which are radially spaced about the periphery of frame 4.

An outer housing 14, having the shape of a truncated cone surmounted with a cylinder, attaches to frame 4 at approximately the point of mutual attachment of the inner housing and resilient support. The outer housing has a multiplicity of inward extensions 15 which form in cooperation with the inner housing 9 several vacuum passages'16.

Supported upon the upper conical surface of the inner housing is a generaly annular pan 17 which fits concentrically within the outer housing, leaving an annular vacuum passage 18. The pan 17 has a conical lower surface 19, a cylindrical outer surface 20 and a cylindrical inner surface 21. The inner surface of the pan is perforated over most of its area, said perforations being covered with a filter material 22.

A filter chamber 23 is formed by the pan 17 in cooperation with a generally conical cover 24, which is slidably engageable with the inner cylindrical surface 21 and the outer housing 14.

The lowermost peripheral edge of outer housing 14 terminates in a generally circular stationary brush 25.

Reference is directed to FIGURE 2 in which the outer housing 14, the cover 24 and the stationary brush 25 are clearly visible.

Pivotally attached to housing 14 is an elongated handle 26, which terminates at its upper extremity in a grip 27. Disposed within the grip is a control switch 28 which is spring-loaded to the normally-off position. The handle is pivotally attached to the housing shaft 29, and may be rotated upwards approximately 45 to a near vertical position for storage in minimum space. The handle is position wherein wheels 30, which are fixedly attached to the pivotal handle, are lowered into contact with the floor surface. Further rotation of the handle for an additional 45 brings the handle to a second detent position wherein the wheels are even further extended to facilitate rolling the vacuum cleaner across the floor.

In operation, depressing the control switch 28 causes line current to be electrically connected to the motor 1. Electrically energizing the motor causes the impeller 2 and impeller blades 11 to rotate at high speed within the impeller chamber 10. Simultaneously, the eccentric drive 3 revolves at the same, or lower, speed and through engegement with bearing 5 causes the drive spider 6 and the agitation brush 7 to oscillate in a small circular or orbital motion.

Filter chamber 23 becomes partially evacuated as the rotating impeller blades provide a positive pressure in the impeller chamber 10. Air is expelled from the impeller chamber through the plurality of outlet passages 13 and is forced past the moving bristles of the agitation brush 7. The action of the positive pressure within the periphery of the agitation brush, coupled with the orbital motion of the agitation brush causes the vacuum cleaner to raise up slightly and operate partially as a I through vacuum passages 16 and As the air is forced past the agitation brush at its point of contact with the floor surface, dislodged matter is carried between the agitation brush and the stationary brush, 18 and into the filter chamber 23. The matter laden air is drawn through the filter material 22, where the matter is deposited, and the filtered air continues then through the circular inlet 12 to the impeller chamber where it is again directed through the cleaning cycle. Since air leakage at the floor interfaces must be compensated for, the impeller blades additionally direct motor-cooling air through outlet passages 13, and into the closed system of circulation.

Release of the switch 28 in the grip shuts ofi the motor and allows the full weight of the vacuum cleaner to rest on the brushes. Then rotation of the handle to the upper extreme position detent permits rolling on the wheels 30.

Removal of the slidably attached cover 24 permits lifting out of the pan 17 for emptying and replacement of the filter material strip 22.

Storage of the vacuum cleaner is facilitated by raising the handle 26 to the detent at the near-vertical position. The electrical cord may be wound about the cylindrical portions of the outer housing 14.

The cleaning head illustrated in FIGURE 3 is an embodiment of the upright type vacuum cleaner. Replacement of only the cover 24, as shown in FIGURE 1, with an alternate configuration effectively converts the machine to a tank-type vacuum cleaner.

Reference is directed to FIGURE 3, in which all of the elements in the embodiment in FIGURE 1 may be contained with the exception that the cover 24 has been replaced with an alternate cover 31. The alternate cover has an annular ring 32 which closes off the inlet to the receptacle chamber 23, thereby causing the inlet air to be drawn through a hose attachment port 33.

In operation matter laden air is drawn into chamber 23 through port 33, the matter is deposited on filter media 22 as the air continues through the annular passage 12, is driven through the impeller chamber and is expelled through a plurality of exit passages 13 beneath the vacuum cleaner. The eccentric drive, spider and agitation brush may be omitted from this embodiment, or may be left in place to comprise a machine capable of either type of operation.

While the foregoing has been described as the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the scope of this invention, and such alter ations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a generally cylindrical housing closed on the upper end, and flaring to an enlarged opening on the underside; an annular, moving brush disposed within said opening in a uniformly spaced relationship to the periphery of said opening; an electric motor centrally and coaxially disposed within said housing; an ec centric crank driven by said motor; a generally flat, perforated slider operably connecting said crank to said moving brush; an air impeller additionally driven by said motor; an impeller annulus surrounding said impeller, a resilient supporting member connecting said brush with said impeller annulus and so constructed and arranged that said annulus in cooperation with said resilient brush supporting member directs the impeller discharge to the intersection of the floor and said moving brush; an annular, pan-shaped dirt receptacle comprising two concentric cylindrical walls connected by a generally fiat bottom, the taller and innermost of the walls being perforated and covered with a filtration material, said dirt receptacle being disposed within said housing in a spaced relationship forming a circular air passage from the exterior of said moving brush into said receptacle and a second circular air passage from the perforated wall of said dirt receptacle to the inlet of said air impeller; whereby the air impeller discharge is directed tothe cleaning area at the intersection of the floor and said moving brush, dirt laden air is drawn from the cleaning area into said dirt receptacle, and the filtered air is redirected through said impeller to the cleaning area again in a closed-cycle circulation path.

2. A vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1, in which the periphery of the housing is terminated in a stationary annular brush; whereby said stationary annular brush completes the closure of said housing against the floor surface.

3. A vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1, in which the weight of the cleaner is supported by the resilient force of the moving brush in combination with the volume of air within the area enclosed by said moving brush being maintained at positive pressure by the impeller discharge to the interior of said moving brush.

4. A vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1, having retractile wheels which are not in contact with the floor surface while the vacuum cleaner is operating.

5. A vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1, having a means for attaching a hose to the housing in the area of the dirt receptacle, and a means for closing off the circular air passage interconnecting the moving brush cleaning area and the dirt receptacle; whereby the machine operates as a tank-type vacuum cleaner and is supported by the moving brush in combination with the discharge air from the impeller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,247,654 11/1917 Farnsworth 15-346 1,678,111 7/1928 Franz 15-361 1,999,667 4/1935 Smellie 15-346 2,022,43 8 11/1935 Schwarz 15-361 2,070,643 2/1937 Becker 15-361 2,220,224 11/1940 Faber 15-385 2,224,202 12/ 1940 Smellie 15-346 2,588,000 3/1952 Hines 15-385 X 2,618,007 11/1952 Fuller 15-347 2,780,826 2/1957 Coons et a1 15-327 2,782,452 5/1957 Kitto et al 15-385 2,832,986 5/1958 Seck 15-327 2,876,481 3/1959 Gerber et al. 15-331 2,949,619 8/1960 Holt 15-49 2,967,315 1/1961 Helbig et a1 15-49 3,013,293 12/1961 Schottle 15-347 3,064,292 11/1962 Fillery 15-385 X FOREIGN PATENTS 246,331 8/1963 Australia.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VACUUM CLEANER COMPRISING: A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING CLOSED ON THE UPPER END AND FLARING TO AN ENLARGED OPENING ON THE UNDERSIDE; AN ANNULAR, MOVING BRUSH DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPENING IN A UNIFORMLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OPENING; AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CENTRALLY AND COAXIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING; AN ECCENTRIC CRANK DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR; A GENERALLY FLAT, PERFORATED SLIDER OPERABLY CONNECTING SAID CRANK TO SAID MOVING BRUSH; AN AIR IMPELLER ADDITIONALLY DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR; AN IMPELLER ANNULUS SURROUNDING SAID IMPELLER, A RESILIENT SUPPORTING MEMBER CONNECTING SAID BRUSH WITH SAID IMPELLER ANNULUS AND SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT SAID ANNULUS IN COOPERATION WITH SAID RESILIENT BRUSH SUPPORTING MEMBER DIRECTS THE IMPELLER DISCHARGE TO THE INTERSECTION OF THE FLOOR AND SAID MOVING BRUSH; AN ANNULAR, PAN-SHAPED DIRT RECEPTACLE COMPRISING TWO CONCENTRIC CYLINDRICAL WALLS CONNECTED BY A GENERALLY FLAT BOTTOM, THE TALLER AND INNERMOST OF THE WALLS B EING PERFORATED AND COVERED WITH A FILTRATION MATERIAL, SAID DIRT RECEPTACLE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN A SPACED RELATIONSHIP FORMING A CIRCULAR AIR PASSAGE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MOVING BRUSH INTO SAID RECEPTACLE AND A SECOND CIRCULAR AIR PASSAGE FROM THE PERFORATED WALL OF SAID DIRT RECEPTACLE TO THE INLET OF SAID AIR IMPELLER; WHEREBY THE AIR IMPELLER DISCHARGE IS DIRECTED TO THE CLEANING AREA AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE FLOOR AND SAID MOVING BRUSH, DIRT LADEN AIR IS DRAWN FROM THE CLEANING AREA INTO SAID DIRT RECEPTACLE, AND THE FILTERED AIR IS REDIRECTED THROUGH SAID IMPELLER TO THE CLEANING AREA AGAIN IN A CLOSED-CYCLE CIRCULATION PATH. 